215 The Strong Man (1/2)

Garm's eyes went wide with surprise, and I could guess why.

When we first met, the Great General and I had a duel where I was supposed to stop his attack in order to win. I managed it, although it was a struggle that nearly caused me to pass out. Now, months afterward, stopping his greatsword's downward slash seemed almost easy, at least that's what he thought.

Imagine having to precisely attack a small part of a weapon in order to unbalance its momentum. That wasn't an easy feat at all, and it would have been impossible without Fool's Insight.

Garm didn't know that though, and I was content with him thinking even for a moment that I was his match. Seeding doubt in an opponent's mind, after all, is a principle of warfare.

”So, you've gotten better at fighting, boy,” he spat in my face.

”Or maybe you just got lamer,” I fired back at him.

Now, despite this display of attempted bravado, I was feeling very intimidated. Thankfully, Garm was so focused on my face he wasn't paying attention to my shaking boots.

I was confident in my skills for sure, but we're talking of a guy who was at Darah's level here, and I've never beaten her in a duel. I was self-aware enough to know I couldn't beat Garm yet either. But I could probably keep him occupied long enough for my men to beat his. At least, that was my plan. Plus, I was expecting backup soon — the 'chosen one' and 'war god' kind.

Garm pressed his greatsword down on my falchion, and I could feel the muscles in my arms tightening to brace against the increased weight.

Suddenly, my survival sense tingled, and I broke the blade lock in order to pull away from the left hook that I just noticed on my peripheral.

I took a single step back, allowing me to avoid the hook but leaving me vulnerable to a second downward slash from his greatsword.

Thankfully, I managed to block this in time, but unlike earlier, the force of Garm's swing drove me back toward my own unit's shield wall.

My back slammed hard into a friendly's shield, and I heard the voice of Ian when he asked, ”You alright there, Commander?”

”Fine…” I pushed off his shield and readied myself for a counterattack. ”Send word to Ty and Azuma, will you? Tell them to get their asses here now please!”

I jumped forward with falchion raised high in both hands.

The path to Garm was clear almost like the soldiers fighting around us had instinctively given us a wide berth.

My falchion swung down on his chest plate but he easily blocked it with the flat of his greatsword.

However, my attack was more than a single polished strike as Garm was about to find out.

I moved my lead foot to the right, and following the momentum of my forward dash, I twisted my wrists to the left and slashed sideward.

I then moved my back foot to the right as well which now put me on his left side. I twisted my wrists to the right this time and sent a diagonal slash from upper right to lower left at Garm's unprotected left side.

The tip of his greatsword came out of nowhere and would have skewered me in the forehead if I hadn't turned my whole body around in the nick of time.

I spun around to Garm's back and repeated the same diagonal slash I'd intended to attack his left side with.

Although he wore a rather bulky breastplate that was thick even in the back, I was confident my falchion's vibro-function could break through his defense.

Sadly, that wasn't the case at all.

As soon as my shadowblade reached his armored back, sparks began to fly similar to when a chainsaw met extra-strong steel beams. It was clear that I would need minutes to break through it. Minutes I didn't have.

Garm reacted with a backward elbow that was again aimed at my head. Insight caused me to dodge to the right.

As his momentum caused him to turn to his left, I moved my right foot to the right just so I could rake my falchion's shadowblade across his lower back.

Sparks flew. My weapon still couldn't penetrate it. So I changed tactic.

At the same time as I moved toward his right side, I aimed my next slash at the space between his leg armor — and finally, I drew blood, although it was merely a tiny cut that wouldn't have deterred the giant physique of my opponent.

Now, before Garm could slash at my neck and decapitate me, I'd already ducked down and sent the tip of my falchion rising up to his unprotected chin as I realized his armor might be a little too sturdy for my silver-tier sword.

Garm's left hook flew my way a second time, but I knew my attack was faster. I would reach his head first before that fist hit my right shoulder.

It really was regrettable that I'd forgotten about the air pressure he could create with a single fist.

I felt the wave strike my shoulder, and in an instant, I released the tension in my muscles and forced my entire body to fall to the left in order to cushion the blow I knew was coming. It only half worked.

The impact from the air pressure was already enough to blow me back so I managed to avoid Garm's fist. Only, that air pressure was enough to bring forth intense pain, the kind that might have dislocated my arm if I'd caught it unaware.

Point to Fool's Insight once again, I thought as I skidded to a stop five feet to the left of Garm. ”All that effort for one lousy cut…”